Truss and suspensory



Aug. 25', 1942. R. R. NORWOOD 2,293,998

TRUSS AND SUSPENSORY Filed April 10, 1942 RRJVm-n oad, INVENTOR.

Patente'd Aug. 25, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

Although the obliterative or injection method of treating hernia has come into wide use during the past ten years, a support or truss is quite as essential for a time after an injection as a splint is for a, broken bone of the leg: and that statement is particularly true if a large scrotal hernia is under treatment. Broadly considered, the object of this invention is to provide a combined truss and suspensory of novel form and suitable for the retention of such a rupture whilst the injection process is going forward. Specific objects will be pointed out hereinafter; in connection with the description of the structure to which they relate.

A truss maker who abides by what is claimed may incorporate such changes as his skill may dictate, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows in front elevation a truss constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a composite perspective showing the D Fig. 4 is a section through the assembled pad.

In the drawing, a pair of pads P is shown, each pad comprising a rigid, elongated front plate I, generally made of metal, and shown as of rectangular outline. About its periphery, the plate I is supplied with a backwardly inclined flange 2, adapted to insure a good marginal hold on a flexible, washable cover 3, which may be made of cotton flannel. The front plate I is supplied with a central opening 4, and is provided near its ends with an outer stud 5 and an inner stud 6. Between the opening 4 and the stud 6, the plate I has holes 1, disposed in an upwardly slanting line.

The pad P includes a main member 8, corresponding in outline to the front plate I, but of slightly greater area than the front plate. The main member 8 is made of washable material, such as felt. It binds the cover 3 against the plate I, about the opening in the cover. The main member 8 has a central opening 9. The main member 8 is bound tightly between the front plate I and a back plate having very short, rearwardly extended prongs I2 at its corners.

The numeral l4 marks an auxiliary member of the pad P, preferably made of washable felt and tapered rearwardly, throughout a portion of its thickness. The auxiliary member I4 may be attached in any suitable way, releasably, to the back plate II.

If desired, the auxiliary memher l4 may be provided With elastic cords l5, in which the corners of the plate H are received. The plate II is provided with a central opening IS. A securing element, such as a screw passes through the opening 4 of the front plate I, the central opening 9 of the main member 8, the screw being threaded into the opening l6 of the back plate H, and entering the auxiliary member M of the pad P, the parts being bound tightly together.

The numeral I8 designates a connecting bar or plate, made of rigid material, preferably metal. The bar l8 has a backward slant from its central portion toward its ends. Securing devices I!) connect the end portions of the bar l8 with the front plates of the pads P, the securing devices passing through the openings 1 of the front plate. The pads P have a pronounced upward divergence, and the upper, inner corner portions of the pads are spaced slightly apart.

The letter B serves to designate, generally, a body encircling belt, including a main section 20, preferably made of resilient webbing. At 2| there appears an upper loop, and at 22 a lower loop. The loops 2| and 22 preferably are made of inelastic material and are held at adjusted lengths, and on the forward ends of the main section 20, by buckles 23 or the like. Eyes 24 are mounted in the bends of the loops or ties 2| and 22, and are adapted to be engaged, respectively and releasably, with the studs 5 and 6 of the front plates of the pads P. Loop-shaped hangers 25 are mounted on the main section 20 of the belt B and are adjustable longitudinally thereof, the hangers carrying buckles 26 or the like.

A suspensory is shown at 21 and is provided at I its upper edge with a horizontally elongated eye 28, preferably composed of a strip of textile material, stitched to the suspensory 21. The binding 29 of the suspensory 27 forms pockets 30 at the outer edges of the suspensory. The connecting bar I8 passes removably through the eye 28, the ends of the bar being received removably in the pockets 39. It is to be noted that the screws l9, which connect the bar I8 to the front plate I, by Way of the holes I are exposed at the front of the suspensory 27, it being possible to detach the screws H] from the front plates I, the bar being removed from the eye 28 and the pockets 30, for the Washing or repair of the suspensory.

The rear ends of crotch straps 3| are connected to the hangers 25 by the buckles 26, the forward ends of the crotch straps being secured to the suspensory. Throughout most of their length, the crotch straps 3| are received in tubular coverings 32 made of cotton flannel, for example, having their forward ends secured to the rear portion of the suspensory 21.

The pads P have suflicient area to fit over and exert pressure on the inguinal canal throughout its entire length, including both the external and the internal openings.

The pads P are so shaped, located on the bar [8, and carried by the body belt B, that pressure is exerted above the pubic arch and not against it. It is not necessary to exert pressure upon or below the pubic arch. The external opening of the inguinal canal, the internal opening, and the connecting portion, all are above the pubic arch and pressure must be made there. It is injurious to use a pad which presses the spermatic cord and the soft tissue of the body against the hard and fixed pubic arch.

It is not necessary to apply pressure or support where the intestines go down into the scrotum. The internal opening is midway between the anterior superior spine of the ileum and the tuberosity of the pubic arch. There is no doubt about the importance of where to support the rupture. The lesion is not below the pubic arch, and pressure should not be applied upon or below the arch.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a rupture retaining device of the class described, a body belt, a pair of elongated pads,

each of which is of sufficient length to extend the full length of the inguinal canal, including both its internal and external openings and the connecting portion therebetween, the innermost parts of the pad being disposed close together, the inner end edges of the pads having a downward divergence to form an open space avoiding pressure upon or below the pubic arch, the upper and lower edges of the pads having an upward divergence, a rigid bar having its end portions slanted backwardly with respect to a point midway between its ends, means for connecting the pads, near their central portions, to the terminal portions of the bar, means for assembling the belt with the pads, and a suspensory, provided near its upper edge and intermediate its ends with an eye, the suspensory having pockets at its outer edges, the bar extending removably through the eye, and having its ends removably mounted in the pocket.

2. A truss pad comprising a front plate, a back plate having backwardly extended prongs, a main pad member bound between the plates, an auxiliary pad member engaging the back plate and entered by the prongs, and a tightening device connecting the plates and passing through the main pad member, the back plate being reversible on the tightening device, to seat the prongs in the main pad member, when the auxiliary pad member is removed. 

